ONCE dreamers chasing a better life, three Filipinos lured by false promises had to escape Cambodia’s web of online scams with the help of the NBI led by its Director Jaime Santiago (rightmost).
Photograph by alvin murcia for the daily tribune
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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed yesterday the rescue of three Filipinos who escaped from a scam hub in Cambodia, where they were reportedly detained and allegedly tortured.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago revealed that the three Filipinos, whose identities were withheld, arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, 16 March.
NBI officials were sent to Cambodia to retrieve them from a safehouse where they had been hiding after their escape.
Santiago described the operation as highly successful, with four NBI agents safely bringing the victims back to the Philippines. He stated, “They are victims of scammers.”
The NBI chief explained that the three individuals were lured to Cambodia and forced into scamming activities. He noted that they had left the Philippines illegally through the country’s backdoor.
He said the NBI is conducting further investigations and coordinating with Cambodian authorities and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). A raid on the compound in Cambodia where the victims were held is being considered.
The victims informed Santiago that around 40 Filipinos are still being held at the compound and forced to work as scammers.
Santiago warned the public, “To our countrymen, do not be tempted by offers of large salaries. Only believe in accredited recruitment agencies.”
NBI Executive Assistant for Special Concerns Yentl D. Malicad shared that the three victims recounted seeing an online job posting last January.
The post advertised work as customer service representatives for a casino company in Cambodia, offering a salary of $1,000.
On 7 January, the three left the Philippines without following proper procedures. They traveled to Dipolog City, where they boarded a ferry to Basilan, then to Tawi-Tawi, and finally to Sabah, Malaysia, via small boats.
From there, they were transferred to a fishing boat that took them to Cambodia.
Upon arrival, instead of working as customer service representatives, they were confined to a compound and forced to scam foreigners aged 55 and above.
